The K-pop industry is preparing for another big shift in 2026. Major agencies are getting ready to debut a new wave of artists, including survival show winners, global project groups, and long-awaited rookies from top companies.
In 2025, many talented K-pop acts debuted, including CORTIS, ALLDAY PROJECT, Hearts2Hearts, KiiiKiii, and more. 2026 looks even more promising as top labels will once again introduce new groups.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1)
- Agency: WakeOne Entertainment
- Debut Timeline: January 12, 2026
- Members: Junseo, Leo, Arno, Anxin, Geonwoo, Sangwon, Xinlong, Sanghyeon
- Notable Fact: Formed through Mnet’s “BOYS II PLANET”
Mark your calendars for one of the first major debuts of the year. ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1), formed through the Mnet survival show “BOYS II PLANET,” is an eight-member boy group under WAKEONE Entertainment, set for an official debut on January 12, 2026, with their first mini-album titled ‘EUPHORIA’.
On January 12, they will celebrate their launch with a grand global debut showcase titled ‘THE FIRST ALARM.’ Fans can watch the live broadcast simultaneously worldwide on Mnet, M2 YouTube, and Mnet Plus.
The group already took its first step with a pre-debut single titled “Formula,” released this month. Even before their debut, they are performing at major award ceremonies and festivals, including the 2025 MAMA and MMA Awards.
ALD1 promotes the message “One Destiny, Drive to The Top,” which reflects their journey through the competition. The lineup includes members with notable pre-debut experiences. Leader Leo (born 2002, Australia) and center Sangwon (born 2003, South Korea) are both former members of HYBE’s pre-debut team Trainee A and currently perform as a duo.
The group also features Junseo, a currently active member of the boy group WEi. ALPHA DRIVE ONE is designed as a global project from the start as it has members from South Korea, China, and Australia.
Despite being a project group, ALPHA DRIVE ONE has signed a contract to promote as a full group for five years, and an extra year for solo or special activities.
SMTR25
- Agency: SM Entertainment
- Debut Timeline: 2026
- Members: Nicholas, Songha, Haruta, Daniel, Kassho, Hanbi, Tata, Justin, Hyunjun, Woolin, Hamin, Kachin, Sadaharu, Jaewon, Charlie, Ruki, Xulun, Sungwook, Keeo, Takeru, Ken, Junyoung
- Notable Fact: Members have been pre-revealed through concerts and content
Staying true to its legacy of shaping trends, SM Entertainment is methodically preparing its next act. SMTR25 is not a group name but the official trainee project from which the label’s new boy group (or groups) will emerge. The company has confirmed that the first team from this pool of talent is scheduled to debut in 2026.
The project was publicly unveiled at the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 concert, where 25 trainees performed. Since then, SM has been formally introducing trainees through social media and content. The currently introduced members are all male and boast diverse backgrounds.
They include Korean-Americans like Nicholas, Japanese contestants from the “NCT Universe” show like Kassho and Haruta, and even a former member of HYBE’s Trainee A, Justin. Fans and industry watchers are closely observing the project, as SM is known for setting new trends with each debut.
H//PE Princess
- Agency: AOMG
- Debut Timeline: First half of 2026
- Members: Koko, Niko, Rino, Kim Sujin, Kim Doyi, Nam Yuju, Yun Seoyoung
- Notable Fact: Korean-Japanese hip-hop girl group
The hip-hop scene is getting a new idol-inspired addition. H//PE Princess is a seven-member Korean-Japanese girl group formed through the Mnet survival program “Hip-Hop Princess”. The group is confirmed to debut in the first half of 2026 and will promote simultaneously in both the Korean and Japanese markets.
The final lineup was decided by audience votes, and the group aims to bring a “feisty” new energy to the female hip-hop scene. Backed by AOMG’s hip-hop influence and the idol system, H//PE Princess represents a strong mix of music and performance cultures.
HYBE x Geffen’s “The Final Piece”: A Global Prelude
- Agency: HYBE x Geffen
- Debut Timeline: 2026
- Members: Emily, Lexie, and Samara
- Notable Fact: 4th member will be chosen via a 2026 survival show
HYBE and Geffen Records are continuing their global partnership with a new girl group project. Following the success of KATSEYE, the teams are building another global girl group and have already introduced three out of four members.
The group currently consists of three former contestants from the “Dream Academy” competition: American dancer Emily (19), Swedish producer Lexie (21), and Brazilian performer Samara (19).
All three confirmed members are former contestants from the 2023 survival show The Debut: Dream Academy, which originally produced KATSEYE.
Emily Kelavos, 19, from Dallas, Texas, is a talented dancer who reached the final round of the competition. Samara Siqueira, 19, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is known for her soulful and delicate vocals and placed seventh in the show.
Lexie Levin, 21, from Stockholm, Sweden, is recognized for her songwriting and producing skills and withdrew during the later stages of the program.
Their fourth and final member will be selected through a new Japanese survival series, “World Scout: The Final Piece,” slated to air in early 2026. The show will stream on ABEMA in early 2026, following the process of selecting the last artist to complete the group. The group’s official debut is planned for later in the year, with a clear focus on the global market.
YG Entertainment’s Upcoming Boy Group
- Agency: YG Entertainment
- Debut Timeline: 2026
- Boy Group Members: Not yet confirmed
- Notable Fact: No details on members or names have been released yet
Adding to the anticipation, YG Entertainment has officially confirmed it will debut one of the two new boy groups in 2026. True to YG’s tradition of secrecy, details are scarce. No group name, member information, or specific debut date has been released. However, sightings of young trainees near the YG headquarters have fueled rumors about the potential members.
As for the upcoming girl group, tentatively titled NEXT MONSTERS, two of the members have already been introduced to the world. In May, Evelli and Chanya were revealed from the upcoming four-member girl group. YG’s Yang Hyun Suk revealed that the members may release solo songs next year, with a potential debut in 2027.
LNGSHOT
- Agency: MORE VISION
- Debut Timeline: January 13, 2026
- Members: Ohyul, Ryul, Woojin, and Louis
LNGSHOT, the first boy group produced by superstar Jay Park, is set to officially launch on January 13, 2026, with their debut EP titled “SHOT CALLERS”. The group, under the agency MORE VISION, embodies an “underdog spirit.” Their name represents “a decisive move that flips the odds against a low probability”.
LNGSHOT first introduced their sound with the pre-debut mixtape “4shoboiz Mixtape” in November 2025. This was followed by their pre-release digital single “Saucin'” on December 22, 2025, a Memphis-style track the members helped write and compose.
Perhaps their most prominent pre-debut moment was a collaboration stage with Jay Park at the 2025 MMA, where they performed “Saucin'” and “Backseat.”
The group kicked off their official countdown by releasing a trailer for “SHOT CALLERS” on December 23. The stylish video, filmed in an abandoned factory, also revealed the EP’s tracklist, which includes five songs in total:
- Backseat
- Saucin’
- Moonwalkin’
- FaceTime
- Never Let Go
Furthermore, the group will hold a debut showcase on January 13, 2026, at 8:00 PM KST at the Myunghwa Live Hall. Fans who pre-order the album through Weverse Global have a chance to win a ticket to this event.
The rookie class of 2026 shows how diverse K-pop debuts have become. Survival shows, trainee projects, global collaborations, and secretive company launches all exist side by side. Each group carries big expectations from fans and the industry.
